act as a buffer between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "act as a buffer between" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a role or function that mitigates or reduces conflict or impact between two parties or elements. Example: "The mediator was able to act as a buffer between the two conflicting groups, facilitating a more productive dialogue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

That global reaction, he said, should include a United Nations presence in the region to act as a buffer between Israelis and Palestinians.

The New York Times

Such a force would be used to protect civilian monitors and act as a buffer between Macedonians and ethnic Albanians in tense regions.

The New York Times

He again supported a UN backed stabilisation force to act as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel so that Israel could be free of rocket attacks.

The Guardian

She discovered that she liked having her husband act as a buffer between her and her doctors.

The New York Times - Health

In fact, without APP's operations, "Sumatran tiger habitat would likely be further endangered", as APP's forest concessions act as a "buffer" between forests where tigers live and "human encroachment".

The Guardian

But Matthew's failure to conform to standard software documentation rankled Jason, who hired an outsider to supervise the programmers and, he says, to act as a buffer between him and his brother.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

On Rice's account, "we acted as a buffer between the federal government and the refuge".

The Guardian

Various reports said the police either acted as a buffer between the groups or encouraged the clashes.

The New York Times

Tensions between the two groups ran high; police acted as a buffer between them for hours.

The Economist

The way Davidson explained it, she mainly acted as a buffer between the national campaign and the volunteer leaders on the ground.

The New York Times - Magazine

Whereas Hello La Mode acts as a buffer between buyer and seller, Threadflip eliminates their interaction entirely.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using this phrase when describing a deliberate action taken to reduce friction or impact between two distinct groups or elements.

Common error

Avoid using ""act as a buffer between"" in overly passive constructions. Instead of saying "It was decided that a third party would act as a buffer between the disputing factions", try "A third party will actively act as a buffer between the disputing factions" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "act as a buffer between" primarily functions as a predicate in a sentence, describing the role or action of a subject in mitigating or reducing the impact between two distinct entities. It defines a function of mediation or protection. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Opinion

3%

Magazine

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "act as a buffer between" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to depict a mediating function. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes something that lessens conflict or impact. Usage is commonly found in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, indicating its neutrality. When using this phrase, ensure the entities being buffered are clear. Alternatives include "serve as an intermediary between" or "mediate between", each with nuanced differences in emphasis. Avoid overuse in passive voice for a more impactful writing style. In essence, it's a valuable phrase for describing mechanisms of mitigation and separation in various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serve as an intermediary between

Replaces "act as a buffer" with "serve as an intermediary", focusing on the role of a mediator.

mediate between

A more concise option, directly indicating the action of mediating.

mitigate conflict between

Highlights the conflict-reducing aspect of acting as a buffer.

ease tensions between

Focuses on reducing tension, implying a calming effect.

cushion the impact between

Emphasizes the softening of impact between two entities.

form a barrier between

Suggests a more protective, blocking role.

function as a shield between

Implies a defensive role, protecting from harm.

bridge the gap between

Focuses on connecting two separate entities or ideas.

reconcile differences between

Highlights the aim of resolving disagreements.

moderate the interaction between

Suggests controlling or regulating the interaction.

FAQs

How can I use "act as a buffer between" in a sentence?

You can use "act as a buffer between" to describe something or someone that reduces conflict or impact between two entities. For example, "The UN peacekeepers "acted as a buffer between" the warring factions".

What are some alternatives to "act as a buffer between"?

Some alternatives include "serve as an intermediary between", "mediate between", or "mitigate conflict between", depending on the specific context.

In what contexts is "act as a buffer between" commonly used?

"Act as a buffer between" is often used in political contexts to describe peacekeeping forces, in business contexts to describe intermediaries, or in technical contexts to describe a layer of protection. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is mostly used in "News & Media", "Science" and "Encyclopedias".

What's the difference between "act as a buffer between" and "act as a bridge between"?

"Act as a buffer between" implies reducing friction or impact, while "act as a bridge between" suggests connecting two entities. A buffer mitigates negative interactions; a bridge facilitates positive interactions.